Run games carries Jets to 21-14 win over the Texans in Zach Wilson return

HOUSTON — It was the definition of a team win for Gang Green. The offense was balanced, and the defense played lights out and the end result was a 21-14 win over the lousy Houston Texans.

Zach Wilson had a pedestrian day in his return to action as he went 14-for-24 for 145 yards with a rushing touchdown and an interception. But the run game was dominant and put up 157 yards of offense. The Jets (3-8) averaged 4.6 yards per carry, led by Tevin Coleman who ran for 67 yards. Austin Walter, who added 38 yards on nine carries, scored a key touchdown in the closing minutes of the first half.

The defense held the Texans (2-9) to 202 yards and 14 points. Bryce Hall sealed the victory with a pass breakup on 4th-and-2 with two minutes remaining. A total difference compared to what the defense showed in the previous five games.

It was needed effort by the defense as the rookie quarterback took most of the first half to shake off the rust from missing four games with a sprained knee.

Wilson struggled out of the gate. He looked jittery in the pocket and was inaccurate on a few of his throws that resulted in the ball skipping at his receivers’ feet.

On his second drive, he inexplicably threw an interception when he appeared to be scrambling. But right before he crossed the line of scrimmage, he flicked a pass to Ty Johnson, who wasn’t looking. It bounced off Johnson’s back and Tavierre Thomas intercepted the pass.

At that point Wilson was 1-for-6 for 11 yards with the pick. And the lone completed pass was a push pass behind the line of scrimmage to Elijah Moore on a jet sweep.

It was clear as day, the No. 2 overall pick was rusty.

Five plays later, Texans QB Tyrod Taylor threw a touchdown pass to tight end Brevin Jordan to give Houston a 7-3 lead.

But right before the end of the half, trailing 14-3, Wilson finally settled down.

He went 5-for-6 for 33 yards to lead a touchdown drive to get Gang Green back in the game. Not an eye-popping stat line. But he converted a 3rd-and-9 to Ryan Griffin that kept the drive alive, and Walter scored a two-yard touchdown. The Jets went for two to pull within 14-11.

In the second half, Wilson was much better. In the third quarter, his first pass was a rifle to Moore for a 22-yard gain on a curl route and that helped get Wilson comfortable.

That drive ended with a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Wilson to give the Jets the lead, 18-14. Not exactly setting the world on fire, but he doubled the first half yardage and got into a rhythm.

The Jets offense sputtered in the fourth, but they were able to secure a 37-yard Matt Ammendola field goal with three and a half minutes to play and their defense finished the Texans off.

With the hype surrounding Wilson’s return it was the run game and the defense that played light out.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3I185ib